Alcohol and Low Carb Dieting

People ask if it is okay to drink alcohol while low carb dieting. Once you are in ongoing weight loss you may have alcoholic beverages in moderation. Remember that you will discontinue losing weight while the alcohol is in your system as your body will burn alcohol for fuel. After the alcohol leaves your body you will then return to lipolysis and weight loss should resume. If you are counting calories as well as carbs you may want to think twice about consuming alcohol as it has a lot of empty calories without any nutritional value. If you have added alcohol to your diet and find you stop losing weight discontinue consuming it. Bottom line is it is best not to drink because it interrupts your weigh loss progress and will more likely give you a sense that the diet isn't working when in reality alcohol on any diet plan will slow your weight loss efforts. It is best to limit yourself to an occasional drink.

Carb and Calorie Count of Beer and Alcohol

  • Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum contains approximately 75 calories per 1 1/4 oz. serving size, 0 grams of fat and .4 grams of carb.
  • Captain Morgan Silver Spiced Rum contains approximately 80 calories per 1 1/4 oz. serving size, 0 grams of fat and 2 grams of carbs.
  • Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay contains approximately 82 calories per 1 1/4 oz. serving size, 0 grams of fat and 7.8 grams of carbs.
  • Captain Morgan Private Stock contains approximately 94 calories per 1 1/4 oz. serving size, 0 grams of fat and 2.7 grams of carbs.
  • Bacardi Rum Superior: 0 carb, 96 calories per 1.5 oz shot
  • Bacardi Rum, 151: 0 carb, 182 calories per 1.5 oz shooter
  • Bacardi Malibu: 6 carbs, 57 calories per fl oz
  • Bacardi Limon: 8 carbs, 223 calories per 1.5 oz shooter
  • Bacardi Island Breeze: 1.5 carbs, 48 calories per 1.5 shooter
  • Bacardi Grand Melon, Big Apple, and Coco: 4 carbs, 100 calories per 1.5 shooter
  • Smirnoff Vodka Silver Label: 0 carb, 111 calories per 1.5 oz shot
  • Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey (80 proof): 0 carb, 100 calories per 1.5 oz shot
  • Jack Daniels Whiskey (80 proof): 0 carb, 98 calories per 1.5 oz shot
  • Gin (80 proof): 0 carb, 96 calories per 1.5 oz Jigger
  • Tequila (80 proof): 0 carb, 97 calories per 1.5 oz Jigger
  • Crown Royal Whiskey: 0 carb, 97 calories per 1.5 oz shot
  • Tanqueray Gin: 0 carb, 115 calories per 1.5 oz shot
  • Whiskey, Scotch: (80 proof) 0 carbs, 73 calories per fl oz

 

  • Red Rose Wine: 0.5 carbs, 20 calories per fl oz
  • Red Burgundy Wine: 1.1 carbs, 25 calories per fl oz
  • Sweet White Wine: 1.7 carbs, 28 calories per fl oz
  • Dry White Wine: 1.1 carbs, 24 calories, per fl oz

Here are some carb and calorie contents in 12 oz of Beer.

  • Budweiser 10.6 carbs, 145 calories
  • Bud Light 6.6 carbs, 110 calories
  • Bud Select (new) 3.1 carbs, 99 calories
  • Bud Select 55 1.9 carbs, 55 calories
  • Bud Ice 3.8 carbs, 123 calories
  • Bud Ice Light 3.9 carbs, 115 calories
  • Bush 10.2 carbs, 132 calories
  • Bush Light 3.2 carbs, 95 calories
  • Michelob 15 carbs, 164 calories
  • Michelob Light 8.8 carbs, 123 calories
  • Michelob Ultra 2.6 carbs, 95 calories
  • Flavored Michelobs (Pomegranate Raspberry, Tuscan Orange, Lime Cactus) 6.0 carbs, 107 calories
  • Non Alcoholic Beer (Please note that Non Alcoholic beers are higher in carbs but are lower in calories)
    • O'Douls 13.3 carbs, 65 calories
    • Bush NA 12.9 carbs, 60 calories

Remember to choose diet sodas and tonics as your mixers so you do not add additional carbohydrates or calories.

Rum, Vodka, Gin, Tequila and Whisky all have a trace amount of carbs but is not enough to make a negative impact as long as you drink in moderation.

Flavored Rums are higher in carbs (35-40 carbs) so if you would like flavored alcohol be sure to make it yourself by adding the appropriate flavor of Sugar Free Syrups as it will not add any additional carbohydrates or calories to your drink.

You can also try sugar free mixes and sugar free mixers. Just remember when it comes to alcohol, moderation is the key. Although if you are having trouble losing weight while drinking, abstinence is even better.